The Japanese government has increased indoor event capacity limits, while the country’s theme parks are urging visitors not to scream…
Japan
Japan is set to allow 5,000 people into indoor events from July 10, provided other measures are in place during the events.
While the government has increased the limit from 1,000, venues are still not allowed to surpass 50 per cent of normal capacity.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, the Parco Theater in Tokyo has introduced a new three-stage ticketing system for its reopening.
The number of tickets put on sale will be determined by the level of coronavirus infections at the time the tickets are to go on sale.
In addition, Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the J-League football competition are set to welcome a limited number of fans back into stadiums from this week.
On June 22, the NPB and J-League proposed that fans should be allowed back into stadiums from July 10 and despite a recent rise in COVID-19 infections in Japan, these plans remain in place.
Fans, however, are being directed to avoid singing, clapping or waving scarves when watching games, as part of the J League’s 70 pages of guidelines on anti-virus measures, covering players, staff and fans.
In addition, Japanese theme parks are asking punters not to scream when on the rides in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Fuji-Q Highland theme park reopened in June and asked visitors to follow the recommendations of the amusement park association and not to shout or scream.
After some complained it was hard to stay quiet on rides, the park released a video of two senior executives riding Fujiyama rollercoaster, which reaches speeds of 130km/h and drops 70 metres, without making any noise and urged visitors to “keep your screams inside.”
The park has since launched a #Mao (serious face) campaign through which riders who post a video of their silent, masked and serious faces while riding Fujiyama on social media will be entered in a draw to win free tickets to the park.
Scottish taskforce
The Scottish commercial music industry has announced the creation of a new taskforce to present a united request to the Scottish Government to “act urgently and provide vital support for the music industry.”
The Scottish Commercial Music Industry Taskforce encompasses all sub-sectors from agents and managers, promoters and festivals, music venues and production companies.
The group welcomed the recent announcements of a £97m investment for cultural, arts and heritage institutions as well as the Scottish Government’s £10m package for performing arts venues.
However, it has urged the Scottish Government to ensure the industry is given the essential support it “desperately needs to survive.”
The taskforce founding members include DF Concerts, Regular Music, Sneaky Petes and Fly Events.
UK VAT cuts
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has today confirmed that concerts will benefit from the VAT cuts after the Government was accused of a lack of clarity following the announcement yesterday.
VAT will be cut from the current rate of 20 per cent to five per cent for the next six months on attractions, food, and accommodation.
The cuts for services, including pubs, restaurants, cafes, zoos and cinemas, lasts from July 8 until January 12, 2021.
The five per cent rate will apply to advance sales of tickets for events to be staged after January 12, 2021, the cut-off date for the VAT reduction.
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